AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy 2024 in Italy

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington DC, USA, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy, are seeking candidates to participate in the annual summer course on science diplomacy to be held on 17-21 June 2024 in person in Trieste, Italy.

The workshop

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Washington DC, USA, and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Trieste, Italy, are seeking candidates to participate in the annual summer course on science diplomacy to be held on 17-21 June 2024 in person in Trieste, Italy.

 

• Table of Content
• About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy
• Aim and Benefits of UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy
• Requirements for UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. Political and economic arrangements of governments are not enough to secure the lasting and sincere support of the peoples. Peace must be founded upon dialogue and mutual understanding. Peace must be built upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of humanity. I... continue reading

UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy

Application Deadline	05 Feb 2024
Country to study	Italy
Type	Training
Sponsor	United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy

The AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomacy training programme was established in 2014 to expose scientists, policymakers, diplomats and other interested stakeholders and institutions to science diplomacy concepts, explore key contemporary international policy issues relating to science, technology, environment and health, and build a skillset to allow for careers at the intersection of science and diplomacy. Over the past years, we have trained over two hundred emerging leaders from more than 50 countries to address science diplomacy from global and regional perspectives. 

Requirements for UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy Qualification

To strengthen the connection between scientists and governmental officials, policymakers and diplomats, applications to attend the course are being invited from ‘participant pairs’. Both participants in the participant pair should ideally be living and/or working in the same country, but not be working at the same institution. Priority will be given to participant pairs from developing countries, and especially Science and Technology lagging countries (STLCs – https://twas.org/66-countries).

The applicants in the ‘participant pair’ should share some common interest in the areas of science, technology and innovation. However, it is not necessary that they work or have been working together in the past.

The ‘participant pair’ will include:

1. Participant 1: a Early-Career Scientist (preferably 40 years or below) whose research and wider engagement has international policymaking implications or applications, and
2. Participant 2: a Policymaker from the policymaking arena, working on science, technology, and innovation-related matters. This person should belong to one of the following categories:

• A local or national government official.
• A policymaker.
• A diplomat.
• Staff at an academy of sciences at supervisory level.
• Civil servant.
• A representative of a research funding institution.
• Staff or expert working for and/or with an international (e.g. UN) organization.

Since 2021, 124 scientists and policymakers from 45 countries have attended the course as participant pairs.

The aim of the pairing is to help develop long-term science policy connections. Therefore, early-career scientists applicants are encouraged to check with the head of their home institute for suggestions on a possible suitable co-applicant from the policymaking arena. 

The two participants in the participant pair will apply individually, but must confirm their participant pair partner on their application and explain why it is a good partnership. Thus, participant pairs must have agreed in advance about their ‘twinned’ applications.

Please note: Applications that do not identify a participant partner will not be considered. Therefore, it is highly recommended to find a partner co-applicant BEFORE applying.

Commitment to attend all days of the course is expected from both members of the selected pairs. Therefore, if one member of the pair will not be able to commit to attend the whole workshop, this will automatically disqualify the other component of the pair.

Alumni of the course will join a global network of young leaders and innovators reaching across borders to address societal challenges and become agents of change in their countries and sectors.

Interview date, Process and Venue for UNESCO AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy

Please note that the two links are different. Applicants are requested to please use the correct link to apply.

• Applications that do not specify their participant partner will be considered incomplete and will not be considered.
• NB. As part of the application, some accompanying documents must be submitted by email before the deadline to the TWAS Secretariat to [email protected]. These required documents are specified at the end of the online application form. In your email, please use the Subject line: “Accompanying documents of application of Mr/Ms Surname / Name”.
• Candidates should not have participated in any previous AAAS-TWAS course on science diplomacy, including regional workshops.
• Women are especially encouraged to apply, as are refugee or displaced scientists. 
• Applicants from any nationality are welcome but priority is given to developing countries.
• Applicants from the 66 Science & Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) https://twas.org/66-countriesand – within this group – the 47 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) https://twas.org/least-developed-countries-ldcs are especially encouraged to apply and will be given priority.
• The course will be held in person in Trieste, Italy. Commitment to attend all days of the course is expected from both members of the selected pairs. Therefore, if one member of the pair will not be able to commit to attend the whole workshop, this will automatically disqualify the other component of the pair.
• An expert committee will be established by TWAS and AAAS to review the applications.
• The deadline for submitting applications is 5 February 2024 (at midnight, CET time zone).
• Successful candidates will be informed by the end of March 2024. 
• Course Fee information: Organizers will cover the expenses of pairs selected, including transportation, lodging, visa expenses, meals and incidentals.  
• Additionally, there will be opportunities for a small number of self-supported participant pairs (including from high-income countries) to attend the course if selected. No travel support will be provided to self-supported participant pairs. They will be responsible for paying their own travel to Trieste, Italy, as well as covering their accommodation and meals.

The workshop will take place as follows:

• 17 June (Monday): Welcome dinner
• 18-20 June (Tuesday – Thursday): workshop
• 21 June (Friday half day): end of activities & wrapping up

 

Application Deadline

February 5, 2024

How to Apply

• Twin Applications must be submitted online as follows:
• Participant 1 in participant pair (Early-Career Scientist) must apply via the link https://forms.office.com/r/dbNWqg6dfZ
• Participant 2 in participant pair (from the policymaking arena as indicated above) must apply via the link https://forms.office.com/r/1drUmpTnAe

For more details visit: UNESCO website.